Building construction



. Aug. 27, 1929. H. B..LITT LEFIELD 0 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 29. 1927 INVENTOR HENRYB- LITTLEFJELD Y Wumu/% ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

melee PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. LITTLEFIELD, or BaonxvILLE, new YORK.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed October 29, 1927. Serial No. 229,603.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of a unique building construction primarily desi 'nedfor relatively light work; that is tosay, in comparatively small buildings such as private. homes, garages, etc.

I An object of the invention is to provide a building construction consisting of a steel framework concealed within the building walls; the framework being so designed that it may be readily assembled in the field w1thout'requiring either shop or field fabrication of the frame members. The frame consists of a plurality of columns, rafters, and beams joined together by the use of specially designed fittings. The fittings may be applied in the field without the use of rivets and by the simple expedient of filing notches in the frame members, and driving metal wedges in the fittings. v a

The frame members need only be of approximately correct length since the fittings permitadjust-ment in this respect. Fittings are designed not only for coupling the rafters and beams tothe columns, but also with a view to supporting interior and exterior walls. I

The connections between the interior walls and the columns are preferably in'the na ture of wire clamps readily attachable to the columns and adjustable therealong. The weight of the interiorwalls is in reality sustained by the sills or footingof the building, and relatively light. wire fittings serve primarily-to hold the side walls 1n vertical position and to take some of the weight of the ceilings. I

Other and more general objects of the invention areto provide a building construction which will be both simple. and practical, which will result in a rugged and durable building, and which is designed to meet the requirements of economical manufacture and convenient and expeditious'erectionand disassembly of buildings. Any building constructed in accordance withthe present invention may be conveniently disassembled.

With the above noted and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a building constructed in accordance with the present invention; this view showing a complete side wall and a portion of the roof of the building.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view I of one of the fittingsused to join the ends of two rafters, a portion of the fitting being broken'away and'in section for the sake of olearness.

Fig.3 is a top plan View of the fitting shown in Fig. 2. i

F 1g. 4- 1s a side elevational view of a fitting used for connecting a rafter to a col which is used to connect acolumn and beam.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective detail showing one of the wire clamps or fittings attached toaoolumn.

Fig.11is a sectional detail indicating a modified method of enclosing the columns.

In the drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to designate a building footing in'which'are embedded the lower ends of angle iron columns 111 Fittings 12 attached at anydesired point along the columns 11 serve to support horizontal angle iron beams 13' which'in turn carry nailing pieces 14: to which the outer building walls '15 are 'connected. Connectors in the nature of stiff wire arms 16 space the inner building walls 17 from the column'll. The wire arms 16 are attached at their inner ends to nailing pieces 18 and at their outer ends are shaped to have a clamping engagement with the columns. 1 p

' The upper ends of the columns 11 are connected to rafters 19by the use of special fittings 20. The rafters which are preferably also of angle iron may carry fittings 21 generally similar to the fittings 12, the fittings 21 providing supports for roof beams 22 carryingnailing pieces 23 to which the roof 24: is attached. The ends of the rafters 19 are connected by the use of special fittings at 25, these latter fittings in addition to connecting the rafter ends serve also as supports for roof beams 26.

The weight of the interior side walls 17, which are preferably of sheet plaster or other suitable material, is sustainedby the sills or framework 27 resting on the concrete fioor 28 of the building, but the ceiling sections 29 are sustained, partially at least, by the use of stiff wire rods 30 hung from the rafters 19 and generally similar to the rods 16.

I have illustrated in detail in Figs. .4: to 10, inclusive, a number of fittings which may be used in the ready assembly of the building framework, but it is of course to be understood that these fittings aressubject to structural changes. r

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated one of the simpler types of fitting adapted primarily for use in supporting a beam from one of the columns or rafters. This fitting which I have previously designated by the reference character 12, is of general V-shape. The member 12 includes a pair of arm portions 30, 31 adapted to embrace the angle iron column. Arm 30 lies flatly against one face of the column, and arm 31 diverging from the arm 30 is provided with an offset free end 32 disposed in parallelism with the arm 30 and engaging the edge of the opposite column flange. To prevent the fitting from sliding down the column, I provide a slight burr or projection 33 in the corner defined by the arms 30, 31; this projection being adapted to seat in a file notch 34 out in the column on the field. Aligned apertures 35 in the extremities of the arms 30, 31 receive a pin 36, and a wedge 37 driven between the pin and the face of the column secures the device tightly in position. A horizontally disposed bracket or platform portion 38 integral with the arms 30, 31 at their lower edges projects outwardly beyond the apex of the arms and constitutes a shelf on which the angle iron beam 13 may be' laid. Preferably the lower edge of the apical line of the arms is intersected by a notch 39 for receiving the edge of one flange of the angle iron beam. and restraining the latter against tilting movement. The horizontal beams such as 13, 22 and 26 are also file notched for engagement with the fittings in order to prevent sidewise movement of the beams.

The outer walls 15'may be of sheet sheathing finished with stucco or in any other desired manner. 1

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated one of'the stiff wire members used for connecting the columns or rafters with the inner walls 18 or the ceiling 29, as the case may be. The wire 16 at one'end is bent right angularly as at 16 for engagement with the nailing pieces 18 while the other end of the wire-is bent into general V-shape at 16 to provide a clamping portion engageable with one flange of the column. One of the arms which defines the V-shaped clip 16 at its extremity is preferably doubled upon itself as indicated at 16, providing a yielding shoulder which bears against the flat face of the column flange and coacts with the apex of the V-shaped section 16 to additionally clamp the column.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown in detail one of the fittings 25 used for joining the ends of'two angularly disposed rafters together. This fitting includes two rafter-en'- gaging portions substantially similar to the fittings 12, the two rafter engaging portions being'disposed at the desired relative angle and the portions 40, 41 thereof which correspend to the arms 30, 31 having their free ends integrally connected and extended as at 42. Here, the pins 36 are passed through the extensions 42 and the wedges applied for effectively locking the fitting 25 to the two rafters which it connects.

The other fittings such as the fitting 20 illustrated in Figs. '6 and 7 are of generally similar form; in every instance embodying a plurality of ra'fter engaging elements of the same general character as the'fitting12, these elements being integrally connected in accordance with the relative angles ofthe parts to be connected. In the fitting 20 for instance, the arm portions of the rafter and column embracing members are integrally connected as by the plates 50. The .pin'36 which engages the column and-the pin 36 which engages the rafter are secured .by wedges in the manner above described.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modified type of fitting has been shown gin-which again a raft-crembracing member and column embracing member similar to the members 12 are connected by integral plate portions 52.

' It will be noted that all of the fittings which I have illustrated-are based upon a number of more or'less arbitrary modifications of the fitting 12; that is to .say, all of the fittings embody column or rafter engaging means quite similar to the fitting l2, and such means may be integrally or rigidly associated with various other clamping means so that two adjacent frame members may be conveniently rigidly secured together by the use of a single fitting. The fittings may be made in both right and left hand shapes as desired.

In Figure 11'I have illustrated a slight modification in which the lower ends of the columns or uprights 11 are bent at right angles as at 11 andembedded in a course of concrete laid on the ground. Thus the weight of the concrete floor anchors the building. By virtue of this arrangement it becomes. unnecessary to drill into rocky ground for foundation purposes and considerable economy is effected.

It will be apparent that a building constructed in accordance with the present invention may be erected both expeditiously and economically, in that both shop and field fabrication of steel framework is eliminated. At the same time the steel framework is quite strong and rigid, and a sturdy construction is had.

I have illustrated all of the frame members as formed of angle iron, but it will be obvious that the frame members might be of other cross sectional shape, and the shapes of the fittings accordingly modified to fit them.

Obviously, various changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described without departing from. the invention. Hence, I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fitting for the skeleton angle bar frame of a building including a pair of diverging arms to embrace the frame bar, a lug extending inwardly from the apex of the arms to engage a file notch in one edge of the bar, a pin passed through the apertured free ends of the arms, and a wedge to be driven between the pin and one flat face of the bar.

2. A fitting for metallic building construction including a bifurcated member for detachable engagement with an angle frame, means joining the extremities of the bifurcated portions of said member around said frame, and a wedge for retaining said members in fixed relationto said frame.

3. A fitting for metallic building construction including a bifurcated member for detachable engagement with an angle frame, nieans joining the extremities of the bifurcated portions of said member around said frame, and a Wedge for retaining said members in fixed relation to said frame, said member having a detent receivable within a notched portion of said frame.

4. A fitting for metallic building construction including a bifurcated member for detachable engagement with an angle frame, means joining the extremities of the bifurcated portions of said member around said frame, and a wedge for retaining said members in fixed relation to said frame, said member having an extended portion adapted to support a nailing piece.

HENRY B. LITTLEFIELD. 

